Stella's Social Club

[Cynthia12]

But, but, the chicken is missing something else!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Bad day yesterday. I took my youngest to the waterslide park, and I was gone all day. I came home to a bloodless massacre of something that got in my covered run and killed 13 chickens. Not eaten, just killed. Bodies and feathers were everywhere all over the run. It happened in the daytime. Whatever got in had to climb a 6 foot fence and squeeze under the netting. The fence was not disturbed or dug under. I can't imagine a fox killing for fun, so I can only guess that it was a raccoon.

I bawled my eyes out as my husband and I buried the bodies. Most of my Barnevelders are gone, my remaining male has an injured wing. Another female is barely alive, and in shock - I don't think she will make it but I wanted to give her a chance to pull through if possible. My blue and splash olive eggers are gone, and one Icelandic (no head on her).

It was horrific and I hope I never have to go through it again. I didn't sleep at all last night, I just laid there worrying about it. I have 1 uninjured Barnevelder hen, mixed breed hens, an Icelandic, the crazy Orp, a welsummer pullet. 10 chickens left in that coop. My welsummer coop, which is not covered, is fine so far.

 

[ronott1]

Bad day yesterday. I took my youngest to the waterslide park, and I was gone all day. I came home to a bloodless massacre of something that got in my covered run and killed 13 chickens. Not eaten, just killed. Bodies and feathers were everywhere all over the run. It happened in the daytime. Whatever got in had to climb a 6 foot fence and squeeze under the netting. The fence was not disturbed or dug under. I can't imagine a fox killing for fun, so I can only guess that it was a raccoon.

I bawled my eyes out as my husband and I buried the bodies. Most of my Barnevelders are gone, my remaining male has an injured wing. Another female is barely alive, and in shock - I don't think she will make it but I wanted to give her a chance to pull through if possible. My blue and splash olive eggers are gone, and one Icelandic (no head on her).

It was horrific and I hope I never have to go through it again. I didn't sleep at all last night, I just laid there worrying about it. I have 1 uninjured Barnevelder hen, mixed breed hens, an Icelandic, the crazy Orp, a welsummer pullet. 10 chickens left in that coop. My welsummer coop, which is not covered, is fine so far.

Are you setting traps and or a game cam?

 

[1muttsfan]

Oh Kelly so sorry! What a horrible thing to happen

 

[Happy Chooks]

Are you setting traps and or a game cam?

Thinking about setting a trap out, but every time I do, I catch a skunk.

 

[ronott1]

Thinking about setting a trap out, but every time I do, I catch a skunk.

You need Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs to come get the skunk out!

Super Chemical Girl did post tips for getting a skunk out.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Bad day yesterday. I took my youngest to the waterslide park, and I was gone all day. I came home to a bloodless massacre of something that got in my covered run and killed 13 chickens. Not eaten, just killed. Bodies and feathers were everywhere all over the run. It happened in the daytime. Whatever got in had to climb a 6 foot fence and squeeze under the netting. The fence was not disturbed or dug under. I can't imagine a fox killing for fun, so I can only guess that it was a raccoon.

I bawled my eyes out as my husband and I buried the bodies. Most of my Barnevelders are gone, my remaining male has an injured wing. Another female is barely alive, and in shock - I don't think she will make it but I wanted to give her a chance to pull through if possible. My blue and splash olive eggers are gone, and one Icelandic (no head on her).

It was horrific and I hope I never have to go through it again. I didn't sleep at all last night, I just laid there worrying about it. I have 1 uninjured Barnevelder hen, mixed breed hens, an Icelandic, the crazy Orp, a welsummer pullet. 10 chickens left in that coop. My welsummer coop, which is not covered, is fine so far.

So very sorry about your chickens. What a horrible thing. I have to say we have had a couple of dogs that could climb and get in what you are describing. Just not sure they'd be smart enough to get out again. Daytime killing sprees always make me think of dogs.

 

[drumstick diva]

Kelly do you think skunks could have done it - maybe a mama and several youngsters?. Did you check to see if any fur might be sticking to your fence or cover?

Could you add electrified fencing.

 

[robhuncor]

Quote:
x2

What a disaster -I'm so sorry!! I know the feeling. The same thing happened to me - I came home from work one evening (long time ago) and found 30 of mine dead and mutilated. I loaded the bodies in a wheelbarrow, crying so hard I could barely see. I had 4 alive but in terrible shape - one was my favorite Orp, Pinky. They didn't make it, but a day later when I finally could stand going in to the barn, I found a badly wounded Delaware hiding in a 5 gal. bucket. She recovered but always had a weird dip in her back where a chunk was bitten out. I had a total of 4 chickens left and they only survived because they always went to roost very early. I found out later that it was 2 dogs rampaging through the neighborhood. The owner had been fined for letting them run but he kept letting them out anyway. My neighbor lost all his chickens to them also. Dogs running loose, especially in a pack, can get into anything and are the worst killers.

 

[drumstick diva]

Is it possible that a weasel or mink or something similar killed them? They can slip through very small openings, and often execute group massacres. Plus they can climb or shimmy through barriers.

Wonder what the predator threads folks would come up with. Just horrible beyond belief.